Ochsner Health is a system that delivers health to the people of Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate.
LAFAYETTE – Ochsner Lafayette General Sports Medicine is proud to recognize four Acadiana schools for their achievement as National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) Safe Sports School Award recipients. The award champions safety and recognizes secondary schools that have met the recommended standards to improve safety in sports and reinforces the importance of providing the best level of care, injury prevention and treatment.
Ascension Episcopal High School, Cecilia High School, David Thibodaux STEM Academy and Southside High School were each honored with “1st Team” recognitions from NATA for meeting both recommended and required elements of the Safe Sports School Award.
To celebrate and recognize the schools for their achievement, a reception will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 16, in the medical office building adjacent to Ochsner Lafayette General Orthopedic Hospital, located at 4212 W. Congress Street. Superintendents, parish athletic directors, school athletic directors, athletic trainers, principals of each awarded school as well as Ochsner Lafayette General Sports medicine athletic trainers, orthopedic surgeons and leaders will be in attendance. Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association President Scott Arceneaux will co-present the awards to local school officials.
“Ochsner Lafayette General is committed to Acadiana’s student athletes,” said Patrick Gandy, CEO, Ochsner Lafayette General. “Our athletic trainers understand the importance of providing safe environments for young athletes to train, compete and thrive. We are honored to partner with local athletic programs and serve as their guide to achieving the highest safety standards and athletic care possible. Together, we will continue to inspire healthier lives and stronger communities and encourage student athletes to reach their own goals.”
In order to achieve Safe Sports School status, local athletic programs partnered with Ochsner Lafayette General Sports Medicine to:
In Louisiana, only 23 high schools have been designated as a Safe Sports School. To apply, schools complete an in-depth questionnaire that assesses adherence to best practice standards and recommendations. For more information about the Safe Sports School Award, visit www.athletictrainers.org.
"It is evident that these schools and their stakeholders are committed to providing the safest environment for their student athletes. Health and safety should be the priority for all schools. This award shows and recognizes those schools that have the highest standard of care. We are proud of their athletic trainers, the Ochsner Lafayette General Sports Medicine team and community partners who have worked together to earn these prestigious awards,” said Louisiana Athletic Trainers’ Association President Scott Arceneaux.
“It is a privilege to work alongside our partnering schools in the region to promote best practices for health and safety at the secondary school level. These Safe Sports School Awards demonstrate OLG Sports Medicine’s commitment to uncompromised care and concern for each individual student athlete. We are steadfast in our dedication to continuing this work with other local schools so they not only achieve similar recognition from state, regional, and national organizations, but more importantly keep athletes free from injury and at their peak performance,” said Ochsner Lafayette General Director of Sports Medicine JD Boudreaux.
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About Ochsner Lafayette General
Ochsner Lafayette General has more than 5,500 employees and serves 220,000 patients per year. The organization includes Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, Ochsner Lafayette General Orthopedic Hospital, Ochsner Lafayette General Surgical Hospital, Ochsner St. Martin Hospital, Ochsner University Hospital & Clinics, Ochsner Acadia General Hospital, Ochsner Abrom Kaplan Memorial Hospital, Ochsner American Legion Hospital and a number of clinics, urgent cares and professional centers. Ochsner LGMC is the only Level II Trauma Center in Southwest Louisiana. Both Ochsner LGMC and Ochsner UHC are major teaching hospitals, providing graduate medical education across many disciplines.